The Alpha Female Dilemma In Video | “Your Honor, I present exhibit A” (I’m embarrassed by this…)
September 1, 2009 by Andrea J. Lee
Filed under Being Alpha Female
One of the ways in which I try to support more critical thinking in the world is through the reverse dissection of things.
Have you ever looked at something and asked what does that say, beyond the obvious?
For those of you who’ve already participated in the ‘Being Alpha Female’ discussion, I’m very curious for your thoughts here, especially since there’s definitely a contingent of folk beating the ‘There’s nothing wrong with being alpha female!” drum. If you’re new to the discussion, this is an interesting place to start.
The tiny video below is from a popular web service that sells photos, illustrations, audio and video. It doesn’t matter what the site name is, they’re ‘just’ the messenger, and I love their service actually. But take a moment if you would, to note that the existence of this video – and others like it (quite a few others like it) – are available as part of a field of thousands of things depicting kids blowing bubbles, sweet couples necking on park benches, and lots of other stuff.
This video is included among that field of ‘representations of life.’ As normal. Unremarkable. Something many people might like to use on their websites.
(Click the image to play. This may take a few moments.)
Alright…rant alert. (I’ll try to keep the exclamation marks to a minimum, so if you would, please help by reading with intensity.)
Is it just me, or is this video just wrong?? (I didn’t say anything about question marks!)
Scratch that, I know it’s not just me. It’s wrong.
That it exists. That what it depicts is so endemic to ‘the way things are’ and ‘what’s acceptable’ that it goes unremarked, and not only that but paid for and downloaded by numerous people for use in goodness knows what.
May I ask you…what is the equivalent video, in your mind, with gender roles reversed? Would that be condoned, and sold, openly, as if okay? You know, for 15 credits, worth about $15? Would you be outraged at THAT?
Truly, I shiver at the existence of this. And, I attest, it’s the kind of thing that puts ants in my err, pants, and makes me want to say more, converse more, and get more productive, loving and large-hearted about what we can do about it.
That’s what the whole Dilemma of Being Alpha Female conversation is about – empowerment to recognize the changes around us, the courage to look for a third way, and belief enough to pursue it.
Is it just me, or are you embarrassed about this, too?
P.S. More posts to come, addressing the more delicate, sensitive and highly personal nature of the dilemma women are living as unwitting alpha females. And, some specifics, including promised table of contents stuff.
